Finding Canadian Coupons

Yesterday Baby Bird and I took a walk around our yard. The snow is pretty much all gone now and it was nice to show her outside things for the first time. She loved the sun and the fresh air and got a kick out of touching the evergreen in our yard. She didn’t care much for the light wind that came up now and then.

I can’t wait to get outside and garden, some of my spring flowers have broken through and are starting to grow. I want to get out there so bad. I think when my parents are here next week I will see if I can get out and clear away all of the dead stuff and get my gardens ready. I miss my perennials. I’m such a garden geek…

I hope today’s post will be helpful to anyone just starting out or not too sure where to look for coupons. There are actually quite a few ways to find coupons in Canada. Here are some examples of where you can look to increase your coupon count:

Online Coupon Sites: There are a couple of sites that will mail you out coupons. The main site that comes to mind for this is Save.ca. You choose the coupons you want and they print them out and send them to you.

EBay: Ebay is a great place to find lots of coupons if you want to start a good colection of active coupons. Make sure they are accepted in Canada, the expiry has not passed and shipping is not a lot. Click HERE to start searching EBay for coupon lots. (I suggest you start by searching the words ‘Canadian Coupons’). You can also look in the left hand sidebar for active coupon auctions I recommend.

Contact Manufacturer: If you like a certain product, or want to try a product out, just go to the manufacturer’s site, call them or write. Online, there is usually a ‘contact’ link where you can just send them an email and request either samples or coupons if any are available. Sometimes you get a yes, sometimes it’s no, but it never hurts to ask. (If it is a product you like a lot and you get a no, you may want to try back in a few months). If you like a manufacturers product, write them and tell them. Companies like hearing good things and respond well to compliments (who doesn’t?). Or if you have one concern or question, tell/ask. You may get something for your time.

Newspaper Inserts: Throughout the year flyer inserts are included with your local newspaper. There are three of them that I know of and you can get some GREAT deals with these.

Brandsaver is put out by Proctor & Gamble and is available through newspaper insert and online by clicking HERE. Smart Source and Shop & Save are only available as a flyer inserts in the newpapers.

Smart Source should be in the newspaper on the following days: March 28, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 11, August 1, August 22, September 26, October 17, November 7 and December 5.

Shop & Save should be in the paper on the following days: March 28, May 2, June 6, July 4, August 15, September 5, September 26, October 31, November 21.

Product Packaging: Coupons often come on products you already buy. Check the boxes on store shelves. Some will give you an instant rebate (you can use it on that item), and some will apply the rebate to your next purchase. You can also check the package to see if they list a website or toll-free number to call to either be put on their mailing list or to receive free samples/coupons. Another tip that goes along with this one is if I see a product on the shelf that looks interesting or if it is from a manufacturer I haven’t checked yet, mark the name down on your grocery list (along with any contact info) and check out their website when you get home. You don’t have to buy the product to get the info off of it. Then if they send you out a coupon, you can use it towards your first purchase.

Hanging on Store Shelves: You will find some coupons right beside the products in the stores. If you have the time, but you don’t need many things during your grocery shop, still stroll the aisles. You may find a coupon good for something you may need next month, and Murphy’s Law dictates that when you do need it, it most likely won’t be there anymore. Stock up on those coupons (take more than one if the expiry is far enough into the future that you will be making multiple purchases). Even if you don’t use the product yourself, they are good for Coupon trading/trains (see below).

Coupon Forums/Trading/Trains: You can join a group interested in saving money and finding deals. I have a few of these listed in my left sidebar at the top. Here you can meet members interested in collecting and trading coupons. The most interesting idea I have seen out there are coupon trains. A coupon train usually consists of 6-8 people. The first person in the train puts a certain amount of coupons in an envelope (say $10 worth) and mails it to the first person on the list. That person then takes out what coupons they can use and leaves the rest. They also add an equal or greater amount of coupons into the envelope to replace what they took out, then mails it to the next person on the list. Once it gets to the last person, they do the same thing, then mail it back to the original sender. That’s it in a nutshell. This is good if you can trade with people across the country as the same coupons might not be found in different provinces.

Check My Site: I will post any deals or great coupons I find. As well, I maintain a list of coupon and deal sites to visit at the top of my left sidebar, and a link to various clubs you can join in my top menubar. Plus, I list the best EBay auctions for coupons to save you the hassle. Add me to your favorites or add yourself to my Followers’ list on the bottom of the right sidebar so you don’t lose me.

I think I will add this to my ‘tips’ section at the top for quick reference. I hope you found something useful today. Have a good one. We have one more day before my parents are here… I should clean or something!

Sheri publishes, and writes at This Bird’s Day where she shares all of the thoughts in her head without the voices. Sticking mainly with content for Canadians, Sheri shares family stories, product information and anything that fits into her (and her family’s) daily activities.